Which Honda Fit Should I Buy?

Whelp, I just bought a car! Did you know you can get a Fit with a bigger trunk and a K24 pre-installed? 

I'll start a new thread on the Element, but thanks so much for all the Fit advice, everybody. I really wanted to want one. But after looking at one up close in a parking lot, then trying to find a clean one for a reasonable price, I decided to go in a different direction. Maybe I'll get a Fit next time. 

Do let us know how you like that. I see manual transmission ones for sale every now and again and I keep thinking they're they box shaped version of my Accord. 

In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :

Having owned and driven manual trans versions of all three, I'd say the Element feels much more on the Fit side of the spectrum than Accord. I wanted to love the Element but it wasn't great at a baby shuttle due to the clamshell doors - it was really hard to load/unload in the pediatrician parking lot. The Accord feels mature, planted, and quiet in comparison. 

The Element is starting to jump up in price. I think one went for like $30k on Bring a Trailer?

If I can convert one of the suddards to a Korean car just once my life will be complete. Next time. 

In reply to bobzilla :

I looked at Velosters, too. Does that help?

In reply to Erich :

The doors on my FJ are the part that makes me most want to sell it, even after my kids are essentially grown, so I get that. 

And here's my Honda Element thread. No sense muddying up the Fit talk any further.

2nd Gen is the best. 3rd Gen is the most comfortable

Tom Suddard said:

In reply to bobzilla :

I looked at Velosters, too. Does that help?

that's not really looking at them. That's looking through the shop window at a 3 legged man because it's not something youve seen before. 

bobzilla said:

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

This (and my forever love of all things Korean) steered me to where I am. For $5k you can get a rusty, 200k mile Fit or you can have an Accent or Rio5 with under 100k miles. and newer. 

I'm kicking this thread back up there because I'm in the same boat. Been browsing for used fits for a year now and they're all so pricey. I've had a ridgeline before, so I know how awesome the magic seats are. But for 2/3 or even 1/2 the price I could get a similar Kia, Yaris, Mazda 2, fiesta, etc. I guess my question is, the fit really worth that premium? We're looking to plop down around $5k for a in-town runabout. 

Tom Suddard said:

Whelp, I just bought a car! Did you know you can get a Fit with a bigger trunk and a K24 pre-installed? 

I'll start a new thread on the Element, but thanks so much for all the Fit advice, everybody. I really wanted to want one. But after looking at one up close in a parking lot, then trying to find a clean one for a reasonable price, I decided to go in a different direction. Maybe I'll get a Fit next time. 

This would not be the first "learn me" thread that took a hard turn.

Have fun trying to get into B-Spec with an Element.

twowheeled said:

bobzilla said:

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

This (and my forever love of all things Korean) steered me to where I am. For $5k you can get a rusty, 200k mile Fit or you can have an Accent or Rio5 with under 100k miles. and newer. 

I'm kicking this thread back up there because I'm in the same boat. Been browsing for used fits for a year now and they're all so pricey. I've had a ridgeline before, so I know how awesome the magic seats are. But for 2/3 or even 1/2 the price I could get a similar Kia, Yaris, Mazda 2, fiesta, etc. I guess my question is, the fit really worth that premium? We're looking to plop down around $5k for a in-town runabout. 

Don't know about the others, but I have owned a 2nd gen fit, and driven a Mazda2.  If you have something else to haul larger items, there's no contest, the 2 is way more fun to drive, and a bit easier to park.  I think the seats are a bit more comfortable, too, but that's more important for long trips.  The Fit, on the other hand has gobs more usable space, in a package that is a similar size.  Like, I have hauled 8 foot lumber inside one.  The Fit is also easier to get in and out of.

In reply to twowheeled :

We're on our 5th Fit in the family & 2nd Accent(an '07 & '10). Any generation of Fit is a far better car than whatever generation Accent falls in those years. 

I always referred to my '07 Accent as an "adorable little E36 M3box" because that's what it was. I beat it mercilessly for 3 years & 100kmi, and the only problems were the factory head unit died, the AC compressor locked up, and the control arm bushings were just about done. I did have to replace the timing belt 2x, water pump once, shocks/struts, and front brakes, but I consider that normal wear on an older car with that many miles. So I'd certainly say it was reliable(especially considering how often I had it airborne).

The Fit is just a nicer car overall, and our daughter's 1st gen hit 250kmi before it was totaled without needing anything other than shocks/struts/plugs/coils and an alternator over 100k+ of ownership.

Our 2nd gen we bought new is still with our other daughter with over 220k on it. Other than needing an AC compressor this year, it's only required shocks/brakes/tires/etc. 

To me the 2nd gen Fit(09-13) is the sweet spot. They're just a bit more roomy & refined than the 1st gen, don't suffer problems that some early 3rd gen cars had, and are a good value. 

I wouldn't turn down another cheap Accent if I found one though. But if I had to live with it daily I'd prefer the Fit. 

I disagree with Pete here. For a nice well equipped runabout the 12-17 Rio is REALLY hard to beat.... ok not on a racetrack but for daily life. You get so much more. The wife loves her auto and honestly that transmission doesn't suck the sould out of it. Its got enough power to do all the things you need or want and the handling is really good stock. Plus you get the biggest brakes of the bunch and no rear drums. 

As mcuh fun as the previous gen accent/Rio were they were crude, horribly equipped and cheap. 

In reply to bobzilla :

Yeah, my only experience is with the older generation. What price range are the 12-17 models in?

In reply to bobzilla :

Rear drums is a selling point.  On a Fit you maybe have to think about them after 250-300k miles.   I have not had a Hyundai with unified parking brake rear disks that didn't have caliper issues on a regular basis, and the brakes never get hot enough to burn off rust so they need to be replaced almost yearly anyway.

This isn't SPECIFIC to Hyundai, but they seem more prone to issues.  And it's always the left caliper that seizes.

I think the Fit is worth the premium but I'm on my second (07 and 17 now) and biased a tad. If you are looking for an alternative, the Nissan Versa Note is worth a look. I had a 15 and it was rock solid as a daily driver/bike hauler/junk hauler/Lyft mobile/people mover. I've checked prices on those and they aren't too insane compared to some out there.

In reply to dxman92 :

Was your Versa Note a manual?

Yes it was. I've had cvt versions as a rental and it wasn't terrible.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

I've only had to replace one rear caliper on all of my cars over the years and that was because I rounded the bleeder. 

We have three first gen Fits in the family (two C-rv  and a civic) I would say they are worth a premium, but do have their issues. I think the Fit is an excellent run about car that can take a road trip if you need to. It gets buzzy at speeds over 70mph after a couple hours that can get old. I did the rear shoes and drums on my 2008 at 200k miles, Afterwards I measured and and resurfaced the drums to find I still have 1/2 the life left....and I had already put on brand new ones. They got put in the box for when one of my Mom's two fits needs drums.  The first gen Fits are prone to water leaks at the doors and hatch. There are fixes and it is annoyance. I understand the later models are not as prone to leak. I have dine general maintenance, shocks, coil packs, front ball joints, standard wear items. The A/C compressor clutch started to act up arounf 180k and I replaced it with a cheap ebay special since that was not a Honda factory available part (only the whole compressor) and it is starting to act up again at 210k but it costs 30$ and can be changed without recovering the system.  I have only really driven the 5 speed manuals, and a short trip in a CVT second gen. I would want the Manual myself.  I love mine and would likely look for another if something beyond my fixing happened to mine.

I've had some issues with the front under plastic engine tray coming loose and off on my 17 Fit. I've thought about swapping it out and going the route of a skid plate. Are there any companies that make a skid plate for Fits? Or is this a custom thing?

LopRacer said:

We have three first gen Fits in the family (two C-rv  and a civic) I would say they are worth a premium, but do have their issues. I think the Fit is an excellent run about car that can take a road trip if you need to. It gets buzzy at speeds over 70mph after a couple hours that can get old. I did the rear shoes and drums on my 2008 at 200k miles, Afterwards I measured and and resurfaced the drums to find I still have 1/2 the life left....and I had already put on brand new ones. They got put in the box for when one of my Mom's two fits needs drums.  The first gen Fits are prone to water leaks at the doors and hatch. There are fixes and it is annoyance. I understand the later models are not as prone to leak. I have dine general maintenance, shocks, coil packs, front ball joints, standard wear items. The A/C compressor clutch started to act up arounf 180k and I replaced it with a cheap ebay special since that was not a Honda factory available part (only the whole compressor) and it is starting to act up again at 210k but it costs 30$ and can be changed without recovering the system.  I have only really driven the 5 speed manuals, and a short trip in a CVT second gen. I would want the Manual myself.  I love mine and would likely look for another if something beyond my fixing happened to mine.

all of these are valid points, And everything said by others about Fits is true,

Only item of note, 1st and 2nd gen fits are standard Autos, only the 3rd gen is a CVT.

 

I really thought long and hard about a Fit given my current commute too.  I ended up with a Civic because ultimately it is more fun to drive.